Ambience is about the only thing going for this place. Small, pretentious fare (should have known with a tag like ""food with nerve"" printed on their awning,) fairly nasty wines, and a waitstaff that frankly lies and misrepresents the product. That is unforgiveable. I try to avoid confrontations, so I ask if the restaurant is going to ""convert to a nightclub,"" with loud thumping music over which you have to sho... view moreut. If there's anything that irks me, it's sitting down for a nice, mellow meal, only to find that your environment has converted to a dance club by the time your second course comes. I was assured by both the bartender and the waitress that this would not happen. Then, as if almost to prove a point, the music was increased over 20 minutes from mellow latin to nasty rave/disco until it was thumping away. It's not just the dishonesty that I find repulsive, it's the fact that no offer was made to turn the volume down, when the restaurant was empty (now I know why!) I asked for the rest of my food to go. I gently explained why. I was treated to a dismissive ""well, have a nice night. "" As I left, the two other couples in the restaurant didn't seem particularly happy, nor in need of loud, aggressive, badly chosen music with poor taste. This place lost my patronage forever. Flat-out lying is not something you expect from Burger King, let alone a place that bills itself as high-end. Your loss, Moxie. You forget: customers are more important than your iPod fix.

On a lark, my husband and I decided to give Moxie a try, and were very pleasantly surprised! The restaurant is a space that's never had good luck. And frankly, it didn't LOOK awesome from the outside. But what a find. The bar and front restaurant space is light-filled and convivial, while the darker interior restaurant space is quiet and intimate. All brick and painted concrete, with black chairs and plump pillows.\... view morer
The food is also a surprise. Contemporary with a twist. For example, the calamari is fresh sauteed with greek olives and sundried tomatoes - a delicious combination. The calves' liver (not what we usually order) turned out to be quite a pleaser: pate-like with seared brown edges and a nice carmelized onion & spinach topping. My husband had an artichoke and bean gratin which is very much like a french cassoulet. Rich brown sauce and NOT gooey cheesy. The wine list is spare but offer very good choices with reasonable prices. \r
If I was nit picky, I would say that Moxie SHOULD have the ""moxie"" to venture away from the traditional dishes that dozens of restaurants offer: paparadelle, seared scallops, steak frites, all the usuals. But fortunately, the chef is creative enough with some of the side dishes and starters that makes Moxie stand out. In a neighborhood full of outstanding restaurants, Moxie manages to be a gem. Not an easy task!

In my opinion, there are three joints on lower Queen Anne worthy of my hard-earned dime. One is always packed with 20 somethings on the hunt for their next conquest, one serves great cocktails but the menu leaves me wanting more, and then there is Moxie. A nice spot to sit, enjoy a well made cocktail and enjoy thoughtful small plates. The mini-lamb burgers are tasty although I'm not a big fan of feta, the oyster s... view morehooter-fab, and the eggs benedict at brunch is pretty darn tasty though a little too precious. If you are looking for a nice-romantic place to sip a drink without all the craziness check out Moxie.

We've dined at Moxie numerous times in 2007 and have always had a great experience. The service is friendly and attentive, servers are knowledgeable about the menu. The chef has come out of the kitchen on a couple of visits to talk with the diners.... a wonderful, personal touch. The menu is always creative and makes the best use of seasonal ingredients. These guys do pork better than anyone..... pork loin, pork ... view morechop, it's always outstanding. We attended a wine maker dinner that was the best we've tried (and we've tried a lot) -- the food and wine pairings were perfect, and the winemaker and chef explained the pairings and asked the diners for feedback. Wonderful experience! The ambience is quiet and intimate... elegant without being stuffy. Moxie has proven that they are consistent in delivering an outstanding experience, and should be considered one of the top restaurants in Seattle.

My husband and I went to Moxie recently to celebrate our anniversary. We had been eager to try it, having heard good things. We agreed to be seated in the bar, as much of the dining room was reserved for a wine tasting dinner. The bartender came over to take our drink order, and since I was having trouble deciding between two of their specialty drinks I asked for for his suggestion. I agreed to the suggested drink, b... view moreut the drink that he brought was the other one. This wasn't a big deal, but it wasn't what had been ordered. After taking our dinner order, he did not come back to check on us at all. I had wanted a second drink but finally gave up on that idea. Fortunately the food was fabulous, so I had to give it at least 3 stars. As a bartender myself, I know it can be hard to make it to your tables if you get busy making drinks. While he was busy part of the time, the rest of the time he was talking to his friends who were gathered at the bar. He came out to serve another table, but walked right past ours without checking on us. Despite the delicious food, the poor service ruined the experience for us, and we will not be back.

Met the owner/chef in line at QFC. Lovely woman with INSANE talent. I had trout, which was prepared perfectly, although the accompaniments were not my favorites. My wife had the scallops and we both licked the plate. We seriously debated ordering another plate of them. This place isn't afraid to challenge your palate, so I guarantee you can find something you won't like, but the fact is that everything is prepar... view moreed perfectly. They live up to their name, and exceed expectations. Beautiful.

I?ve been to Moxie several times for late night drinking and snacking in the bar area, and every time has been good. The service is wonderful and the cocktails are crafted very nicely. This is the place to enjoy a few shots of your favorite hard liquor because Moxie isn?t stingy when giving shots. The lamb-burger and muscles (on the bar menu) are very tasty. The dim lighting gives a nice touch to the environment ... view morethat isn?t too comfy, but is very clean. The seating is best suited for couples or a few buddies; this isn?t a spot for large groups. Out of all the lounges I?ve reviewed, Moxie is in the top 5 for the quality put into the small bites and service.

My wife and I are very picky, and there are so many great restaurants in Seattle that we are a little spoiled. Moxie is more than just a great name. The whole package works. Great food, great concept, great execution. You can go for a nice dinner, or just pop in for a pre-game cocktail with snacks. The husband-wife-owners took a big risk here, and it paid off. Give them a try. (Now if only they served Moxie so... view moreda, my life would be complete!)